Signal transmission apparatus, electronic instrument and signal transmission method

Abstract

A signal transmission apparatus includes: a transmission section adapted to transmit a transmission object signal as a radio wave; a reception section adapted to receive the radio wave transmitted from the transmission section and output an electric signal corresponding to the received radio wave; and a connection section adapted to connect a first housing and a second housing of an electronic instrument pivotably around a center axis; the connection section having a radio signal transmission line formed therein by which wireless transmission can be carried out between the transmission section and the reception section.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A signal transmission apparatus comprising:
 a first housing configured to accommodate a transmission side section; 
 a second housing configured to accommodate a reception side section; and 
 a connection section configured to connect the first housing and the second housing for pivotal motion around a center of axis of the connection section, wherein the first housing and the second housing are connected to each other for a folding movement by the connection section, wherein the connection section includes a cavity, wherein a waveguide section for performing wireless communication between the transmission side section and the reception side section is disposed in the cavity, 
 wherein the waveguide section comprises:
 a first polarizer that protrudes from an inner side face of a first waveguide and terminates in a cavity of the first waveguide, the inner side face of the first waveguide being spaced apart from a tip of the first polarizer; 
 a first substrate spaced apart from the first polarizer along a first waveguide axis, the first polarizer in the first waveguide being between a connection and the first substrate,
 wherein a base of the first polarizer is between the inner side face of the first waveguide and the tip of the first polarizer, a sectional shape of the tip of the first polarizer being smaller than a sectional shape of the base of the first polarizer. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the waveguide section comprises:
 a dielectric material that fills the cavity of the first waveguide, a thin film of a metal material coating an outer periphery of the dielectric material. 
 
     
     
       3. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the waveguide section comprises:
 a second polarizer that protrudes from an inner side face of a second waveguide and terminates in a cavity of the second waveguide, the dielectric material filling the cavity of the second waveguide. 
 
     
     
       4. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the inner side face of the second waveguide is spaced apart from a tip of the second polarizer, a sectional shape of the tip of the second polarizer being smaller than a sectional shape of a base of the second polarizer. 
     
     
       5. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the base of the second polarizer is between the inner side face of the second waveguide and the tip of the second polarizer. 
     
     
       6. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the waveguide section comprises:
 a second substrate spaced apart from the second polarizer along a second waveguide axis, the second polarizer in the second waveguide being between the connection and the second substrate. 
 
     
     
       7. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the connection is between the first polarizer and the second polarizer, the connection joining the first waveguide to the second waveguide. 
     
     
       8. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the inner side face of the second waveguide encircles the cavity of the second waveguide. 
     
     
       9. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the second polarizer is a metallic stepped plate. 
     
     
       10. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cavity of the first waveguide is configured to propagate a radio wave along the first waveguide axis, the first polarizer converting the radio wave into a polarized wave. 
     
     
       11. An electronic instrument comprising:
 the signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 10 , 
 wherein the connection section is configured to pivotably connect the first housing of the electronic instrument to the second housing of the electronic instrument. 
 
     
     
       12. The electronic instrument according to  claim 11 , wherein the second housing comprises:
 a transmission section that is configured to radiate the radio wave along the first waveguide axis after converting a transmission object signal into the radio wave. 
 
     
     
       13. The electronic instrument according to  claim 12 , wherein the first housing comprises:
 a reception section that is configured to convert the radio wave into an electric signal after receiving the radio wave. 
 
     
     
       14. The electronic instrument according to  claim 11 , wherein the first housing is rotatable around the first waveguide axis. 
     
     
       15. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the waveguide section comprises:
 a radio wave absorber that absorbs the radio wave, wherein the first substrate is between the first polarizer and the radio wave absorber. 
 
     
     
       16. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the first substrate is configured to radiate or receive the radio wave. 
     
     
       17. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first polarizer is a stepped plate. 
     
     
       18. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first waveguide is metallic. 
     
     
       19. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner side face of the first waveguide encircles the cavity of the first waveguide. 
     
     
       20. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the waveguide section comprises:
 a polarization probe that outputs a polarized wave to the cavity of the first waveguide or receives the polarized wave from the cavity of the first waveguide, wherein the polarization probe is on the first substrate. 
 
     
     
       21. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the waveguide section is coaxial with the center axis of the connection section. 
     
     
       22. The signal transmission apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the waveguide section comprises a bent portion, at which a reflection section for changing a path of a radio wave between the transmission side section and the reception side section is provided.